The 19-year-old took part in Silverstone testing for the team last week, alongside British Formula Three National Class champion Kotaro Sakurai and second-year driver Marlon Stockinger.

A member of the BRDC’s Rising Star scheme, Powell was runner-up in last October’s MRF Delhi Championship held in support of the Formula One Indian Grand Prix.

She said: “I am delighted to join Status GP for my step up into the international motorsport arena. I liked the GP3 car immediately, and I am confident that together we will produce some strong results. I will be learning circuits and the formula this year, but the team is very experienced and we’re already working well together.”

Status GP team principle Teddy Yip added: “Alice comes to Status GP will an excellent pedigree in karting and junior single-seaters, and we’ve already seen she has real ability as well as an excellent approach and a good grounding from her past single-seater experience. She is an excellent addition to the team.”

The Irish-owned, Silverstone-based, team won the final A1GP championship with Adam Carroll and last year challenged in GP3 with, among others, Alexander Sims.

For most of her career to date, Powell has driver for Manor Racing, but will now find herself competing against the the Yorkshire-based team. One of three women on the GP3 grid, Powell will also challenge fellow Brits Alex Brundle and William Buller of Carlin.

Six seats in the 30-strong championship remain unfilled ahead of the May season opener in support of the F1 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

Author: Andy Darley. Ex-journalist, fan of Mark Webber and anyone who ever drove or tested for Minardi and didn't say rude things about the team afterwards. Owns a Triumph Spitfire and hopes that, one day, it'll be on the road again.
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